MOULTRIE — If there is a consolation in Colquitt County’s 2-8 record this season, it could be that it came against a schedule this is proving to have been more difficult than many may have believed.
Eight of the Packers 2007 opponents – nine if one counts scrimmage foe Cairo – qualified for the postseason this year and only two – Tift County and Lee County – lost in the first round. Lee County’s trip to the postseason, it should be noted, was more a matter of Region 1-AAAA having just four teams that the Trojans regular-season success.
Two more fell – by a total of six points - on Friday, but Region 1-AAAAA champion Lowndes, Cook, Thomas County Central, Bainbridge and Cairo are still alive with quarterfinal games scheduled this weekend.
LOWNDES ROLLS
The Vikings won their 11th straight game, defeating Douglass 31-12 on Friday and will be back at home this week to play host to 2006 state co-champion Roswell.
Lowndes, 11-1, intercepted six Astros passes, including three by Greg Reid and two by Kelly Dawsey and the Vikings were not forced to punt until the fourth quarter.
Roswell advanced after scoring a controversial touchdown in overtime to defeat Peachtree Ridge 23-20 in a rematch of last year’s state championship game, which ended in a 14-14 tie.
The Hornets are 10-2 and will take a six-game winning streak to the quarterfinal game, set for 8 p.m. Friday at Martin Stadium.
VALDOSTA FINISHES 9-3
The Wildcats bounced back from a 1-9 record in 2006, but never managed to take a lead in falling 21-18 to the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions on Friday in Lithonia.
The Lions are now 12-0 and the only remaining unbeaten team in Class AAAAA. They will play host to Harrison High, which eliminated Walton 37-28 on Friday, this week.
M.L. King took a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Cordellaro Jones early in the second quarter and while the Wildcats twice had opportunities to tie the game, never could make an extra point.
In the second quarter, Michael Turner hit Marcus McNair on a screen pass that turned into a 50-yard touchdown, but Lawrence Clagett’s extra point attempt was blocked.
Jones scored again moments later on a 65-yard run and the Lions led 14-6.
Valdosta’s David Arnold answered with a 5-yard touchdown run, but Turner was sacked while trying to pass for a 2-point conversion that would have tied the game.
The Lions extended their lead on a 21-yard touchdown run by Jones with just over 10 minutes remaining, making it a two-possession lead.
Arnold scored again for the Wildcats in the fourth quarter, but the extra point attempt was wide and the 21-18 score was the final.
COFFEE RALLY FALLS SHORT
Newnan jumped out to a 21-0 second-quarter lead against visiting Coffee High on Friday, then had to hold off the Trojans for a 28-25 victory at Drake Stadium.
Newnan, now 11-1, advances to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003. The Cougars will take a 10-game winning streak into this week’s meeting North Gwinnett, which ousted Brookwood 17-3.
Because Drake Stadium does not meet Georgia High School Association minimum seating requirement, the Cougars are not likely to play host to North Gwinnett. The site of the game has not been decided.
Newnan drove 71 yards on its first second-half possession to score on a 3-yard Keandreas Wynn run to take a 28-10 lead.
Coffee scored in the third quarter and again in the fourth with 8:44 left to cut the Newnan lead to three.
But the Cougars held the Trojans on downs twice in the final six minutes to get the victory.
Coffee finishes 9-3, losing only to Lowndes, Valdosta and Newnan.
Also on Friday:
COOK BLANKS DODGE COUNTY
Cook went into the Class AA playoffs as the No. 4 team from Region 1-AA, but is headed to the quarterfinals after shutting out Dodge County 21-0 in Eastman.
The Hornets will travel to meet Greater Atlanta Christian this week. The Spartans advanced with a 26-7 victory over Calhoun.
Cook is in it first season under head coach Jim Scroggins. The Hornets opened the 2007 season by shutting out Colquitt County 14-0.
Dodge County, coached by former Packer quarterback Greg Robinson, finishes the season 9-3.
The Indians also were 9-3 in 2006 and are 32-13 over the last four seasons under Robinson.
BAINBRIDGE KNOCKS OFF FAYETTE COUNTY
The Bearcats got a 4-yard touchdown pass from Nick Williams to Ramadon Jimoh-Osi with 37 seconds remaining to complete a 28-24 come-from-behind victory over Fayette County on Friday in Fayetteville.
Bainbridge will travel to this week to meet Tucker, which eliminated Northwest Whitfield 56-10.
Trailing by 10, Bainbridge scored twice in the final 9:37 to eliminate the previously unbeaten Tigers.
Fayette County led 17-7 at the half.
THOMAS COUNTY CENTRAL SURVIVES
The Yellow Jackets led visiting Whitewater 35-14 with 7:41 left, but had to hold off the Wildcats, who scored twice in the closing minutes.
Thomas County Central, now 12-0, advances to meet Region 5-AAAA champion East Paulding, which also is 12-0 after defeating Mays 21-3 on Friday.
The site of the Thomas County Central-East Paulding game has yet to be decided.
Local Sports
Lowndes advances to quarterfinals
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Conference champions
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls basketball team celebrates its South Georgia Athletic Conference championship. The team includes, front, from left, coach Sheila Williams, Za'Nautica Downs, Akia Sutton, Ty'Asia McNeal, Shy Seay; and back, Sydnee Dalton, Shay Stanfill, Kiarra Lovett, Abiyah Spencer, Coach Jon Scroggins, Angel Kinchen, Chyna Calhoun, Michaela Bennefield, Istajhe Johnson, Ashuntee Stewart and Ja'nysia Brown. Not shown, Coach Tamika Seay and Emily Dozier.
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Lady Pack clinches top seed for region tournament
Makeba Ponder’s free throw with 6 seconds remaining gave the Colquitt County girls a 55-48 victory over Lowndes on Tuesday on the William Bryant Court at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium and ensured the Lady Packers would have the top seed in next week’s Region 1-AAAAA tournament at Tift County.
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Rifle team defeats Worth County
The Colquitt County High rifle team remains unbeaten after taking a 1,098-1,082 victory over Worth County on Tuesday in Sylvester.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Level 3 gymnasts first, Level 4 team second in Thomasville
The Moultrie YMCA MGs headed to Thomasville on January 28 to continue their meet season in the Rose City gymnastics invitational and the Level 3’s took first place and the Level 4’s placed second.
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Register wins region wrestling championship
Travis Register will take an unbeaten record into next weekend’s state sectional after going 2-0 and winning the 220-pound weight class at Saturday’s Region 1-AAAAA wrestling tournament at Lowndes.
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Lady Packers hold off Tift County
The Colquitt County girls basketball team held off a determined Tift County second-half rally on Saturday on the William Bryant Court at the Espy Gymnasium to get a 59-48 Region 1-AAAAA victory.
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Talking it over
The defending Region 1-AAAAA champion Colquitt County High baseball team held an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at Ike Aultman Field at Packer Park. The Packers are gearing up for their Feb. 21 season-opener against Lawton Chiles of Tallahassee at Packer Park. Packers assistant coach Jake Mobley talks with sophomore pitcher, and little brother, Gabe Mobley during Saturday’s scrimmage.
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Seventh-grade girls win conference championship
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls’ basketball team claimed the conference championship Saturday, upsetting previously undefeated Coffee, 20-19.
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